Heavy-duty control cable



y 1945- E. w. BATTERSON ETAL 2,380,015

HEAVY DUTY CONTROL CABLE Filed July 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uly 10, 1945- E. w. BATTERSON ETAL 2,330,915

HEAVY DUTY CONTROL CABLE Filed July 17, 1945 2 Shee t-Sheet 2 (Ill!!! llllvllvlvllvllvllll amazoo, Mich., assignors to :Shakespeare Prodi ucts, Company, Kalamazoo, Michr, a corporaa, U

, tion of Michigan Application.lu ly 17, 1943 495,402

9- Claims. (clam-501 t This invention relates to improvements inthose types of flexible control cables adapted to trans- 1 mit linear motion from one point toanother for various purposes, as for example,,thettransmittal of operative control motionfrom appropriate con Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a control whose composite construction is such that onlya minimum of, elongation will occurin the conduits or casings thereof at those v times when it is installed in and through irregular or tortuous ways, i. e., bent about objects located up willffunction to ac0ihmodate eitherfithe lengthening or shortening of the cable; secondary member. i M M i The foregoing,'as well as other; objects, ad

vantages and meritorious teachings ortheinven v n H trol operating fittingsconnected-thereto, to appation, will be inpart obvious andin part pointed ratuses and devices to, be operatively controlled out in the following detaileddisclosurethereof, thereby throughfthe mediumof. such transmitted when taken in conjunction with the accompanymotion; the invention having for an object to ing drawings, it being understood that the,par- V provide aflexible control which, in usage, will 10 ticular; forms oi the inventionpresentedherein affordarnaximum degree of compression and tenare what is now considered'to be thebest modes sion resistivity to loads applied thereto, and, a of embodying its principles,,but thatmodifications y corresponding degree of flexibility whereby'to per and changes maybe made in specific embodimit its satisfactory installation andxoperation in mentsj withoutdeparting iro nits fessentiahfeand, through irregular or tortuous receiving-m tures. e ff, H j 1 spaces. The application is ,companionate to our Ina prefatory jsense, it may be stateclthat we pending application for United States ,Letters are aware; byreason of lolngfand praoticalim Patent, Serial Number494p86, filedJulyB, 1943.] dustrial experience, that much uefi'ort-and rnany It is also an object of theinvention to provide productions have been; heretoi'ore effected with acontrol of the above stated character; so $011+ 20 a view towards providing control motion transstructed as to permit and ensure the faithful 3 n'litting devices and flexibleconduits and cables transmittal of control motion iromits, operating possessing individual andl combinedqualities: of fitting equipped end to the opposite, end thereof compression and tension resistivity andfflexin'g which isconnected to the control provided appa i tolerance, whereby to permit their practical inratus or device. i stallation and operation, However, insofar a's we a w re t es v lo m nt a e Prov de i the industrywithoverall satisfactory) results or teachings, In some such developments, tension resisticity efliciencyhas been sacrificed, for a betterment of compressionresistivity efiiciencyfwhile in others, a converse sacrifice hasbeen madepand between the motion receiving and inotiontransmitting ends thereof, and wherein that elongation which does so occur, can ,be satisfactorily compensated for prior toloperative connectionof th e I control.

An equally important object is,t0- provide a motion o m y tak -u ev c r the control ipables, ,wherebyjany p ay. existing lbetyveen the secondarycoil member of such fcable and the control; 1 cable end fittings, following an installationirequiring its bending and curving about and around intermediate,objects, with its r'esultant elongation, maybe effectually removed, thus, ale lowing the secondary coil member toftakencome pression loads directed onto the cable andthe primary coiled member, when compression and tension loadsgare, respectively, exerted by, the control motion transmitting inner memberl 0 Yet another object of our invention istolpioe vide a flexible control cable, such ,as above ref ei'redjtoj with a, flexure travel; take up, whereby should or when the cable be or"is flexed through its length or bends, following installation and during actual operation of th'econtrolfsaid takein still others, the greatirnportance and necessity of flexing efiiciencyin such devices has been sacrificed, toone prtoth of the requirements for compression and tension resistivity. Hence, there exists at this jtime, definite need forajcontrol motion transmitting device and "assembly embodying physical in'strun'ientalities "of design, character and combination capable of effectually and. satisfactorily complying withtheaforesaid requirements in their entireties, to wit,-effioient compression and tension resistivity inzcombination with amaximumof bodily flexing efficiency, along withthe ability of the device to faithfully transmit that, control motion initially imparted thereto- By, means of our improved controLba'sed ,upon theresults of thorough and exacting experimental and test usage, we have provided a control'assembly construction affording a maximum of compression and tension resistivity and flexibility, capable of being satisfactorily installed'and effectually operatedin and through restricted areas ing an overall satisfactory resistance to compression and tension loads, whereby to effectually transmit control motion through an irregular tral axis and consequently, the factor of elongation is obviated.

path of travel, the component elements of the construction will, irrespective of the character or degree of their bending or 'flexingfaithfully re tain a fixed, invariable length withres'pe'ct to the unitary structure. In consequence, loss of effective operating control of the motion transmitting inner member of the control-will be avoided. The control adjustment or'motion imparted thereto from the operating fittings will be transmitted thereby and accurately reproduced at the point of connection of the device with controlled mechanism for ensuring its efficient control or adjustment, notwithstanding the fineness of the degree of such operations.

Inthese drawings: 1 Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of our improved control device with parts of the cable brokenaway, l

.Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one of the cable connecting and operating fittings, with parts thereof and thefiexible cable in elevation. i Figure 3 is a side elevati0n of our improved manual end play take-up, showing the same attached to fragments of the flexible cable. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the manual end. play take-up, showing it installed or operatively positioned with respect to the flexible cable, portions of which are in elevation andother portionsin section; said take-upbeing shown in its nonextended position. 7 i Figurefi is afragmentary longitudinal. section through the inner end portion of one of the connecting fittings and the adjacent and connected end of the flexible cable, and. v Figure 6 is a longitudinal section. through a modified form of motion take-up, i, e., an automatic springtalre-up showing its operative relationship to those portionsof the flexible cable receiving the same.

Having more particular reference the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding I parts throughout; the improved control consists of the usual inner member (motion transmitting member), comprising a flexible cable I, encased in a tightly coiled wire or helicaljformation 2, and an 'outenmember which 'slidably receives the inner membertherein. 4 a

The outer member is comprised ofseveral component'elements; fir'st, a pretensioned primary A tightly braided wire sheath ii encases the primary coiled wire or member 3 and by reason of its construction and snug engagement along and about it, provides a support therethrough which functions to prevent elongation of the primary coil or member 3 under comparatively heavy tension loads from the inner member i, 2. It will be noted that the braided wires constituting the sheath 6 are arranged in groups and that these groups are relatively braided.

As above indicated, the primary coil 3 and its braided wire sheatht are snugly received in the closelyo'r tightly coiled secondary wire coil or member 5 which, in turn, is covered by a tightly woven fabric 7, coated or impregnated with a suitable oil and water resisting composition or material. The secondary wire coil 5, together with its covering 1, produces an additional support for the inner member, comprising the flexible cable I and the helical formation 2, which will resist heavy compression loads not within the capacity of the primary coil 3.

Regarding construction j of heretofore prevalent types of controls, and, in order that the meritorious, novel and original features of ourimprovedcontrol maybe better'idem tified, recognized andappreciated, it is wen to, at this point, set forth that when the inner rnem ber of such former type of control has a tension load applied thereto, such application results in an effort, on part of said member, to straighten out. This, in turn, transmits or imposes a conf1 pression load onto the outer member. Conversely,

' when a compression load is placed'onsaid inner does not elongate (because of its smaller diame-' ter) the .same amount as thelarger outer member. Consequently, to guarantee any such flexible control for factors as above, allowance forthis lengthening of the outer member must be taken into consideration. Heretofore, it has either been taken into consideration at the time of the design of the control, or has been neglected entirely, and the control merely designed with an. overall travel in it.

a With a view toward providing a secondary outer member of our improved control with means which will permit adjustment of the same for end play removal, after said control has been installed, and moreover, which will effectuallycompensate for its elongation, we provide a manually adjustable type of take-up, generally identified bythe numeral 8. At this point, it will be noted that in the illustrated installation of the improved talgeup 8, the secondary coiled wire member 5, together with its covering I, is divided intermediately of its opposite ends. The take-up is positioned between. and adjacent the ends of said intermediately divided member 5 and, as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, receives the inner member I, 2 and the sheathed primary outer member 3 therethrough, as hereinafter more fully explained. Said take-up is adapted to be nd modes of operation slidably received in said tubes 19.

manually operated and consists of body sections Bland 92 The body section 9' is oftubular or sleeve-like formation,;externally screw threaded substantially throughoutits entirelength, as indicated at In, and has a nut or multi-sided shouldered formation ll integral with or fixed to its normally outer end. Thebody section 9 is also of tubular or sleeve-like formation. Its diameter.

however, is greater thanthat of the body section 9', in order that the latter maybe received by or extended into the former, as is well shown able connection may be effected between the body sections 9 and 9' of thetake-up, whereby to increase or decreasetheir combined overall length.

for a purpose. which will be hereinafter more fully described, one end (the normally inner end) of the body section 9 is constricted in the manner indicatedat I 2, and internally screw threaded.

- The internal screw threads of the constricted I inner end portion 1 2 are adaptedto have screw threaded engagement with the externally screw threadedperipheral surface of the body section 9'. The normally'outer or remaining end ofthe body section 9 fixedly receives an apertured end wall or ring I 3 therein.

To lock or secure the above described telescopically engaged body-sections 9 and 9. in relative longitudinally adjusted relationships we,

A's hereinbefore stated, the secondary outer member and itsQfabric covering I aredivided or are provided to or arranged upon the sheathed The normalprimary outer member in sections.

in'Figure 4. Inorder that longitudinally adjust- Thereupon, the take up 8, positioned interme diately ofsaid secondary outermember 5, is longitudinallyadjusted by turning or rotating the n thermotiontransmitting inner member, I, land the primary outer member 3, with its sheath 4,

arepassed longitudinally through thetake-up body section 9 as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Following this, the divided portions of sections of thesecondaryouter member 5 and their particular -coverings 1, are engaged over those portions ot the sheathed primary outer member '3 extending from the opposite'ends of the take up and are brought into abutting or substantially abutting engagement therewith, i. e., their ferrule equipped ends (ferrules l5) are moved into such relationship with respect to the opposite ends of the take-up.

The takeup 8 will be left loose or inoperative on the control cable at the time of its installation.

When-the control cable assembly is properly installedfand adjusted or bent, as may be required, it is 'clampedat either end. At this time, there has occurred an elongation of the secondary outer i member 5; by reason of its bending and curving about and around various intermediate objects.

externally screw threaded body section 9! in the body section 9. Such rotation is effected in a directionto cause-expansion of the take-up and thereby, play or undue motion between the con-1 necting fittings I! of the control and the secondary outer member 5 will be removed or preventedi lnstead of interpositioning our improved manual take-up 8 in the length of the secondary outer m'em'berfli, as hereinabove described, said take- I up may bearranged adjacent either of the oply inner ends of thesesections are each equipped with ferrules or collars l5, made of metal or other suitable material, staked or otherwise secured thereto. The opposite and outer ends of the sectionsof thesecondary outer member 5, as well astheir respective coverings 1, have other ferrulesilG similarly connected thereto.

correspondingly constructed connecting fittings, generally identified by the numeral H, are provided on the opposite or outer ends of the control cable. Each said connecting fitting generally consists of a tubular externally screw threaded body having a reduced sleeve-like ex tension 18 on its: normally inner end, while its outer end is provided with anipple-like extension 58 fixedly receiving therein the adjacent endgof an end fitting tube IS. The primary outer mem ber 3, together with its sheath 4, has itsopposite.

or outer end portions engaged and suitably anv workers skilledin the art, that the herein'before posite endsoi' said member: or, if desired, two suchtake-ups may be utilizedone at either end of the secondaryouter member 5, i. e., between the same and their respective end fittings l1. From the foregoing, it will be understoodby described inventionprovides a control construe-y tion capable of carrying unusually heavy loads, and moreover, is especially advantageous for unusually dimcult installations. Also, the combinathere is shown a modified form of take-up-an a automatic spring take-up. This particulartype chored in the particularly adjacent connecting fitting l1, while the ferrule 16 on the adjacent end of the secondary outer member 5, and its covering 1, is slidably engaged over the adjacent sleevelike extension l8 of the fitting 11. it i i The opposite ends of the motion transmittin inner member I, 2, are passed through the connecting fittings IT, provided the oppdsite or outer ends of the flexible control cable into their; re-

- spective end fitting tubes l9, where they are fixedly connected to adjacent ends of operating rods 20,

1 To install our improved take-up upon the control cable, such as herein described, its body sections 9 and 9' are screw threadedly engaged tions possible of the novel and original features of theimprov'ed controlprovide for a wide range crusade: all'of which maybe many times those loadswhich are practical for the now prevalent 3 types of controls to carry efllciently. I

In Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings,

of take-up is advantageous for use in control cable installations where it is required that the equipped cable be flexed through its length and the bends therein, during actual operation of the control. Generally stated, the spring means provided this particular take-up will function to accommodate the travel, i. e., the lengthening or shortening of the cable secondary outer or coiled wire member5, during the aforesaid fiexing of the control unit,in operation. It is to be understood that this modified form of take-up can, in addition to being individually installed in a control. be advantageously installed and used in a control equippedor provided with the manual type of take-up, illustrated in Figures 1,3

1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, and hereinbefore described.

The automatic spring take-up comprises relatively spaced sleeves 2] having their normally inner ends shouldered, as at 22. The sleeves 2|.

tolthe particularly desired extent. Thereupon longitudinally 3 and slidably receive the inner member I f, 2-,: and the primary outer member '3' and its braided wire sheath, 6 therethrough, while the inner ends of; the 1 sections of the sec.- ondary. outer member and theirrespective woven covers i engaged over and about the greater portions of the length of the primary outer member 3" and its sheath'BZ-have'metal ferrules l5 connected thereto, and such'ferrules have abutting engagement with the outer ends o f-the'sleeves 2L.

,A precompressed coiled spring 23 is engaged over and about that-portion of the member-3' and its sheath 6' between the spaced sleeves 21; The opposite ends of said spring engage with and seatron the shouldered portions 22 of said sleeves.

At this point, it may be notedthat the degree of compression of the spring 23 is in excess'of any compression load which may be exerted;at any time, upon the secondary outer memberfi'. It will, thus, be understood that with lengthening of the secondary outer'memberfi during actualoperation of the control, as when the inner memberoycable i", 2 is flexed to its maximum, the compressed coil-spring 23 will ,contract,.and in so doing, will automatically accommodate and compensate for such lengthening-of the divided secondary outer member 5, i. e., its, above described sections; 'At the. same timeyend play betweenthe opposite outer ends of said member, and, the-adjacent ends of the connecting fittings I! (described in connection with the'preceding embodiment of our invention) will be avoided, Conversely, when-the lengthv of *the secondary member 5" is shortened, as when the flexing is at'the minimum during operation of the control motion transmitting inner member l', 2-,-exp an,- sion of thespring 2-3 will move the sleeves 2| along the primary outer member 3 away-from each other and against the adjacentends of" the secondary outer member 5'. Hence; travel-of the secondary outer member 5, during such shortening of the same, will1be automatioally'acoommodated and compensated for by the spring take-up. When flexure of the control, by reason-of its normal operation, withthe-resulting lengthening and/orshortening of the secondary outer mem ber'5' is discontinued, itWi'H be understood that the sections of the secondary member will assume their normal positions with relation to the fittings a portion of saidprimary outer member arranged betweenand engaging the adjacent ends of the sections of said secondary outer member normally applying outwardly directed pressure thereto. I

2. In combination with a control cable, in-' cluding an inner motion transmitting member and'an outer member receiving said inner member therethrough, comprising primary and secondary members, said primary member receiving the motion "transmitting member for sliding motion transmitting movement therein, the secondary member being divided, and pressure ex,-

erting means arranged between the divided portions of said secondary member engaging the adiiacent ends thereof. Y

,. 3. In/combination with a eoaaizat gm cl-udingan inner motion transmitting -member andan outer member receiving the inner member ing motion transmitting movement therein,- said secondary memberbeing divided intermediately of its ends, and precom'pressed spring 'meansar ranged upon a portion of said primary member between the divided portions of said secondary memberand engaging the adjacent ends thereof normally applying outwardlyidirected pressure thereto. I j e w 4. i In combination with a control cable, including an inner motion transmitting member, a flex ible tubular body receiving said-member for slid ing motion transmitting movement therein and a sectional flexible :tubular body receivingsai'd firstbody, precompressed spring means aboutfia portion of said first bodyarranged between and engaging the adjacent endsofthe sections of-said secondbody. i

5. A-control, comprising a motion transmitting innermember, a helically coiled primary outer casing :member receiving aid motion transmitting member for sliding motion transmitting mitting movement therein, a flexible member encasing said primary member, a sectional closelyhelically coiled pretensioned flexible and elon-, gatable member receivingsaid primary and errcasingmembers therethrough, and'motiontake lip-means interposed'between the sections of the sectional member engaging the'adjacent, ends thereof whereby to compensate for elongation of said sections during bending of the same; t '7. A conduit for control cablesycomprising, a primary' casing member formed of helically coiled spring material having the coils there0f relatively spaced one from the other for receiving I the cable for sliding'motion transmitting movement-thereinya flexible member encasing the'primary member, a sectional closely helically coiled pretensioned flexible and el'ongatable member receiving said primary and encasing" members" therethrough, and motion take-up means. interposed between the sections of said sectional member and engaging the same whereby to compensate for elongation thereof during bending of the same. '1' r 8. A conduit for control cables, comprising a primary member formed of helicallycoiled I spring material having the coils thereof relatively spaced one from the other, a flexible mem ber encasing the primary member, a sectional closely helically coiled pretensioned' flexible and elongatable member receiving said primary. andup means receiving the primary and flexible 2,380,015 5 members therethrough and engaged with the ad-.

jacent ends of said sectional member whereby to compensate for elongation of the same upon lateral bending thereof.

9. A control cable, comprising, in combination, a motion transmitting inner member, an

outer member receiving said inner member, said outer member including a helically coiled primary member receiving said inner member for sliding motion transmitting movement therein and a sectional flexible and elongatable secondary member receivingthe primary member, and. longitudinally adjustable means about a portion of the primary member engaging the adjacent ends of the sections of said secondary member.

ERNEST W; BATTERSON. EUGENE A. MIDLING. 

